Grateful family’s fund-raising night for East Anglian Air Ambulance heroes

The Lee family from Freethorpe who are fundraising for the East Anglian Air Ambulance after being involved in a car accident in Strumpshaw. Left to right Vickie and mum Lesley and dad Graham with Elizabeth and John Flinton.Photo: Steve Adams

A Norfolk family who survived a horrific car accident have organised a fund-raising evening to repay the air ambulance heroes who helped them in their hour of need.

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Teenage sisters Elizabeth and Vickie Lee, from Freethorpe near Acle, were badly injured in the accident in Strumpshaw on April 13. Elizabeth, 19, broke her right leg, her left ankle, her collar bone and her breast bone.

Vickie, 16, fractured two lower vertebrae and suffered a painful laceration around her waist, caused by her seat belt, which medical teams initially feared could have indicated abdominal injuries – so she was airlifted to hospital by the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA).

Both sisters are now recovering well. Vickie, while still undergoing regular physiotherapy, has secured an apprenticeship as a teaching assistant at Freethorpe School, while Elizabeth has a job at the Punky Fish fashion shop in Norwich’s Castle Mall.

But although life is returning to normal, the family has not forgotten the efforts of the EAAA crew and is organising a charity auction at Acle High School on October 26 to raise vital cash for the charity.

John Flinton, who became Elizabeth’s fiance shortly after she recovered from the crash, said: “Elizabeth is doing absolutely brilliantly. “She is off her crutches, but still limping and cannot walk very far without needing a rest. It is nice to have everything getting back to normal, and with this event everything is pulling together. It should be fun.

“We have been writing off to so many people and we have had a lot of prizes back in return. It is great to have that support.”

Among the auction lots will be a signed and cartooned Rolf Harris autograph, a hi-fi system and a Stena Line trip to Holland. A separate raffle will be held to win a family ticket to Windsor Castle.

A charity bingo night at Hemsby Village Hall has already contributed £512 to the eventual fund-raising total, which the family hopes to push into four figures before presenting a cheque to the EAAA.

Lesley Lee, who is Elizabeth and Vickie’s mother, said: “It has been amazing how everybody has helped.

“I think the most important thing in thinking about this was that the air ambulance was there for my children when we needed them. Hopefully, by raising this money, they will be able to help other families like they have helped us.

“People who need them are obviously in distress and I wouldn’t want to wish that on anybody. But if they are unfortunate enough to need them, then it is great to know that they are there. We need to keep them flying.”

The family’s charity auction and raffles will be held at Acle High School on October 26. Entrance is free, and doors open at 7pm.